We’re just a couple weeks away from the official tip of the 2012-13 college basketball season. With three teams ranked in the top 5 of the preseason Coaches Poll, the Big Ten is expected to be the nation’s premier conference. But before the season tips, Clothes Call wanted to take a look at some of the uniform changes Big Ten fans can expect to see this season.

Purdue basketball fans were treated to a surprise musical performance at Friday night’s Tip-off Before Kick-off. The “performer” was Dirk Hunter. Actually, it was Purdue senior D.J. Byrd, in costume, acting as a fake country artist. Byrd pulled off the alias for about four minutes before he took off his shirt and revealed a No. 21 Purdue jersey. He then took off his cowboy hat and wig, and Purdue fans erupted when they noticed it was Byrd. Watch Byrd entertain the crowd at Mackey Arena now

Big Ten basketball is almost here as a handful of teams plan for opening night events traditionally known as “Midnight Madness.” Fans can watch six of these events at Big Ten schools live online via the Big Ten Digital Network. The first three happen Friday night: Minnesota’s “Gopher All-Star Friday Night” goes live at 8:20 p.m. ET, Purdue’s “The Tip-Off Before the Kickoff” goes on at 8:30 p.m., and Michigan State’s “Midnight Madness” starts at 10:30 p.m. Go to video.btn.com and click on the “Live Events” tab for the full schedule.

Purdue fans were not sold on the new logo Nike recently gave the school’s athletic teams. That being the case, they may have an issue with the basketball team’s new uniform. They shouldn’t be surprised, though, considering the football team’s 2012 duds feature the updated train.

CHICAGO – BTN will televise 67 men’s basketball conference matchups, including four Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament games and an additional number of non-conference games, the network announced Wednesday. Gus Johnson, one of America’s favorite sportscasters, returns to BTN for his fifth season.